Undoubtedly, providing care is a very stressful job. Caregiver stress syndrome is very real but rarely talked about. It can have a significant impact on a person’s daily life and perception of their job. Seeing someone’s health deteriorate can be extremely upsetting for many people, causing great emotional distress. Let’s examine the information.
What Is Caregiver Stress Syndrome?
The condition known as Caregiver Stress syndrome is characterised by exhaustion on all levels—physical, mental, and emotional. It usually happens as a result of someone putting their own physical and mental well-being on hold in order to take care of a sick, hurt, or disabled loved one. Between 40 and 70 percent of caregivers experience depression, and many also experience anxiety as a result of the strain of providing care.
Signs Of Caregiver Stress Syndrome
Here is a list of common symptoms to look out for when trying to identify Caregiver Stress syndrome in other people and in yourself.
- Feeling overwhelmed
- Constantly alert
- Feeling isolated and like no one can help
- Frustration and resentment
- Apathy towards the person being cared for
- Frequent headaches and other physical pains
- Depression or general feelings of hopelessness
- Fatigue
Statistics
Statistics surrounding caregiver syndrome include:
- 11% of caregivers claim that their physical health has gotten worse because of their job.
- Heart attacks, heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and arthritis are among the chronic conditions that 45% of caregivers reported having.
- 10% of primary caregivers say that the demands of physically assisting their loved one are putting them under physical stress.
- 55% of carers have reported that they suffered from depression as a result of their role
- 38% of young carers report having a mental health problem, yet only half report receiving support.
How Can It Be Helped?
It can be hard to identify Caregiver Stress, but this is the first step to recovery. Once you have realised this, then you can begin to reach out for help. There are also Mental Health organisations, such as Mind, who provide guides on coping with stress as a carer. This is just one example of the many resources accessible to carers.
In addition, setting aside time for yourself, eating well, exercising, and being realistic about your workload are vital in helping you feel better. Your life shouldn’t be completely centred around your work.
Complete Homecare 24
At Complete Homecare 24, our skilled caregivers perform a wide range of services. We aim to ensure that our patients feel seen, and most importantly heard, through our quality home care services. Every client has a specifically tailored care plan, to enable our carers to understand specific needs and standards. To keep up to date, check out our Facebook and Instagram. Alternatively, check out our blog for more information.
